Lathe switch

[iagsxr]

Bought a Rockwell lathe from a school auction a few years ago. They flipped it moving it. I had the pieces made to fix it but it's been stuck in storage while I built my new shop. Working on it a bit this weekend.

Anyone besides me think this is a terrible place for the switch?



I'm thinking about putting it down at the left front corner of the machine. Slightly higher than the variable speed lever.



Then I'm going to make a backsplash. Thinking 5' tall. Just using the switch for visual reference in the photo. Think that will be tall enough? Getting stuff on the wall behind would piss me off.

 

[pstemari]

Seems like that would be more than enough for a back splash even if you're running coolant. A lathe doesnt tend to fling chips far, and I don't see any open gears to fling oil.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Most South Bends I've seen have the switch near the head stock cover, or about 12" to the right of where yours is, or under the middle of the cabinet near your thigh / knee while operating the lathe..

Putting yours on the side of the cabinet seems a little far away from the operating controls, in case of an emergency need to shut off power....

 

[larry_g]

That machine doesn't have a clutch on it so your going to be using that switch quite a bit. You want to be able to put your hand on it without moving away from the front of the carriage. I find the location of mine very natural to use.

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I don't think I would want it off the end of the machine where I would have to step and bend to operate it. Try it where it is and if you don't like it there, figure out why and move it to a more suitable place.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[454ragtop]

I'd put it right below that aerosol can in your first pic, where that open hole is.

 

[b_bueno]

Location should be ergonomic to you while:
Reversing while tapping
Bumping the motor while inspecting/ aligning the part in the chuck
Clear of the spindle in case stringy chips are wrapped around the chuck/ part

 

[iagsxr]

I'd put it right below that aerosol can in your first pic, where that open hole is.

That's where the original switch was.

I assume the original was a push button.

Guessing they had to replace the switch and didn't want the operator's legs to be bumping the lever.

I'll leave it where it is and try it. Just seems bad to have to reach over the spindle.

 

[larry_g]

https://www.google.com/search?q=roc...O0o7RAhVYzmMKHdzKDxsQ_AUICCgB&biw=960&bih=475

An image search shows the two above posters are correct, that hole is for the factory location. That said I suspect that the switch was moved so a teacher could readily shut down the machine if necessary.

lg
no neat sig line